By Daily Sports Nigeria on June 17, 2024
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has jumped above Tyson Fury into first place in the latest WBC heavyweight rankings with the ‘Gypsy King’ now ranked second, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Fury lost his WBC heavyweight title when Oleksandr Usyk beat him in May’s undisputed clash in Saudi Arabia.
Having been previously ranked as champion, Fury has now fallen into the challenger pecking order and has been placed as the second-ranked heavyweight contender by the WBC.
The organisation has placed him below long-term British-Nigerian rival Joshua, who sits behind Usyk, whom he has lost to twice.
Joshua has back-to-back impressive wins over Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin under his belt, and may well compete for the vacant IBF title against Daniel Dubois in September.
Agit Kabayel rounds out the top three after his impressive underdog win over Frank Sanchez on the Fury vs Usyk bill in May.
Zhilei Zhang sits in fourth after his huge KO win over Deontay Wilder, while Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba makes up the top five holding the WBC ‘silver’ trinket belt.
Jared Anderson is in sixth with Martin Bakole and Kabayel’s rival Sanchez ranked at no.7 and no.8. Joe Joyce keeps a place in the top ten in ninth, while rising star Bakhodir Jalolov completes the list.
It is another damaging blow for the ‘Gypsy King’ who had held the belt since beating Wilder in 2020. He had since made some big defences against the likes of Derek Chisora, Dillian Whyte and Francis Ngannou on his march to the undisputed clash.
Luckily for the Briton, he will get a shot at immediate redemption on December 21 when he is signed to face Usyk in a sequel. It will be a chance to earn back his precious WBC belt, and hand Usyk his first career defeat, just as the Ukrainian inflicted on him in their previous encounter.
Fury is now back in the gym six months out from the clash and has vowed to rewrite his name in the history books.
Source Punch Ng
Posted June 17, 2024
You may also like...
Name stadium after Keshi, Supporters Club tells FG...
Southampton Win To Go Top Of EPL
Martial And Rashford On Target As Man Utd...
Potter: Rotation key to success
‘Players’ self-belief secret of Rangers success’
Chelsea Open Way for Omeruo’s Departure
Onuachu lacks rhythm in Eagles setup – Lawal
Ukah faces Osigwe in historic all-Nigerian PFL clash
UCL: Lookman set for Atletico return against Barca
Organisers brace for National Schools Football tourney
Semi Final Teams Emerge As Coast Clear For Final Ceremony Of 7th U-13 JOF Kids Cup Tournament
Okoye keeps seventh clean sheet in Como draw
Nnadozie relishes FA Cup progress
Akpokona recovering well, doesn’t need assistance – Son
NOC Plans To Mark 2026 Olympic Day On June 27
Onojuvwevwo sets world lead as Ogundiran breaks NAIA record
Ethiopians sweep top spots in Yenagoa 10km race
Remo, 3SC rekindle South West derby in Ikenne
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,688 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,009 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,927 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,529 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,458 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,364 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,223 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,767 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,954 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,463 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,867 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,339 views)